Antique Japanese Choba Tansu Merchant Chest With Distinctive Hardware On Kannon Biraki Door And Multi-sized Kakute Pull Drawers - Showa Era (25D-D003)

Antique Japanese Choba Tansu Merchant Chest With Distinctive Hardware On Kannon Biraki Door And Multi Sized Kakute Pull Drawers (SKU 25D-D003)

This chōba tansu is a faithful Japanese Showa-era reproduction of a traditional Meiji-period merchant chest, designed to reflect the functional elegance once found in shopfronts and trading houses across Japan.

Crafted entirely from solid kiri (paulownia) wood, the cabinet is lightweight yet structurally stable, offering excellent resistance to humidity and insects—qualities that made kiri the material of choice for historic chōba tansu. The warm, straight grain of the wood provides a restrained backdrop to the bold hardware layout.

The façade is fitted with heavy cast-iron hardware, including reinforced corner brackets, hinges, locks, and drawer pulls. These iron fittings are intentionally substantial, echoing the security-driven design of original merchant chests used to store cash, ledgers, and valuables. The asymmetrical hardware arrangement and iron-clad doors are characteristic of classic chōba tansu construction.

Inside, the cabinet reveals a practical storage system combining sliding doors, drawers, and compartmentalized sections, balancing display and secure storage. This interior versatility made chōba tansu essential working furniture in Meiji-era commerce and remains highly functional today.

While not an antique Meiji original, this Showa-period Japanese reproduction was made with traditional materials and methods, capturing the spirit, proportions, and visual authority of historic chōba tansu. It works equally well as a statement storage piece in a modern interior or as a historically informed addition to a Japanese furniture collection.

• Origin: Japan, likely a regional merchant shop
• Era: Showa
• Material: Solid wood carcass with forged iron hardware
• Use: Merchant’s choba tansu for storing ledgers, documents, valuables, and household items
• Features: Kannon biraki double doors; interior shelf; multi‑sized kakute pull drawers; side safe compartment with door; elaborate forged iron kanagu with pierced motifs; side carrying handles; rich aged patina
• Dimensions: 27 1/2"W x 18"D x 29"H
• Condition: Very good vintage condition with age‑appropriate wear, minor marks, and oxidation to iron consistent with use

A characterful choba tansu that brings authentic Japanese merchant history and finely crafted storage to any space.

We use professional studio lighting to highlight the natural character of the wood. As a result, the tone may appear slightly warmer than under natural daylight.

All vintage and antique items are sold as-is. Each piece may exhibit signs of age, including scratches, wear, or minor imperfections. These are not considered defects but natural evidence of the item’s authenticity and age.